With games in hand over the Royals a victory was crucial to the Scholars play off ambitions, but the home side threw away that chance as they conceded a late equaliser just when it seemed former Sutton old boy Dean Perrow’s 21st league goal would give them the points writes Russell Brown.

With both teams literately trying to find their feet on a difficult surface the first chance on goal came from the visitors as James Quiggin tried a long rang effort that fail to trouble Lee Evans. Danny Smith forced his way into the area to drag the ball back for Perrow, but the strikers concentration waned and the chance was lost as the ball slipped from his feet in front of goal.

Some superb interplay between Perrow and Smith allowed the latter to face up one on one with Chris Gemmel and the keeper did well to stand his ground and provide the block that denied the Chasetown striker the opening goal. Perrow was to come even closer with Chasetown’s next attack as his shot beat Gemmel only to slam against the post. From the rebound Marlon Walters fired straight at the Royals keeper as he recovered his positioning.

On 31 minutes the home side finally grabbed the break through. Perrow was again involved as he managed to push the ball through to Mark Branch who steadied himself before hitting a curling shot from the edge of the area that bent just enough to escape Gemmel's despairing dive.

After the break there was a let off for the Scholars as Myckel Beckley should have punished some slack marking, but home keeper Evans produced a fine full length save to push the strikers shot around the post.
Mark Branch almost repeated his first half strike but this time Gemmel got across to get a hand to the shot and from the resultant corner Joe Williams glanced his header wide.

On 58 minutes Sutton were levels. Craig Owen, despite losing his balance, managed to force the ball into the path of Quiggin and he struck the ball instantly to hit a rising drive past Evans. But eight minutes later top scorer Perrow was celebrating scoring against his old side as he gained a vital yard on the defender to slot the ball past Gemmel to send the home fans wild.

Sutton brought on former Birmingham City midfielder Paul Devlin and with Chasetown making the mistake of defending deeper and deeper into their own half, the Royals made them pay dearly as in the final second of normal time, the much travelled Devlin pounced on a loose ball just outside the Chasetown area and slammed in an unstoppable shot to earn Sutton a vital away point.

Chasetown: Evans, Aulton, M Branch, Spittle, Penny, Williams, Walters (Holland), J Branch, Smith (Gordon), Perrow, Hawkins

Other Subs: Steane, Harris, Perry (not used)